Ireland Touch Association (ITA) is the National Touch Association and governing body for Touch in Ireland. The ITA is affiliated with both the Federation of International Touch (F.I.T.) who is the world governing body for Touch and the European Touch Association (ETA). The ITA is charged with the promotion and development of the sport at all levels and ages from social to international within Ireland.

[title size=”2″]Our Executive Team[/title]
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[person name=”Rory Hickey” picture=”http://irelandtouchassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GarryGlennX.png” title=”President” linkedin=”http://ie.linkedin.com/pub/garry-glenn/25/55/745″]Our leader, Rory has been involved with the Association since 2007 as one of the founding members of the ITA. Previously has held roles as committee member and treasurer of the Association. He has represented Ireland at two World Cups, five European Championships and one Home Nations. Rory is also a qualified Level 2 Coach and Level 4 Referee[/person]
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[person name=”Jerry O’Brien” picture=”http://irelandtouchassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/federicoX.jpg” title=”Secretary”]Jerry joined the Executive in 2016. Jerry has a wealth of Touch history and extensive skills to ably cover the secretary role. [/person]
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[person name=”Caitriona Ni Liathain” picture=”http://irelandtouchassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/annaX.jpg” title=”Treasurer”]Caitriona temporarily held the role of treasurer in 2015 and given her excellent performance was re-elected for 2016.[/person]
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[title size=”2″]Our Technical Team[/title]
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[person name=”Georgina Woods” picture=”http://irelandtouchassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/gina.jpg” title=”Director of Referees”]Gina leads a new lease of life into the ITA referee domain. She is taking on her new role with lots of energy and looking forward to promoting, developing and increasing ref numbers at all levels in Ireland.[/person]
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[person name=”Paul Brown” picture=”http://irelandtouchassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PaulBrown.png” title=”Director of Coaching” linkedin=”http://www.linkedin.com/in/PaulBrown01″]Paul has been involved in Touch in Australia since the late 1970s as a player, referee, administrator and coach. He has been a level 2 coach since 1994 and has been involved with the Ireland Touch Association since 2008.[/person]
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The ITA’s application to join the Federation of International Touch (the game’s global governing body) was approved at an EGM of the FIT executive in July 2008. Once recognised by the Federation as the acknowledged National governing body for the island of Ireland, the ITA set about its core task i.e. the promotion and development of the game in this country by building a solid organisation that would support this goal.

Our Representative Development in Europe

In order to raise the profile of the sport and draw more players to the game Touch Ireland took the decision to concentrate in the early years on fielding teams at International competitions.
The success of this policy can be seen in the growth in the number of teams entered over the past 5 years.

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3 teams entered at Mixed, Open and Men’s Over 40.
2 teams entered at Mixed Open and Men’s Over 40.
4 teams entered at Mixed Open, Men’s Open, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 40.
4 teams entered at Mixed Open, Men’s Open, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 40.
4 teams entered at Mixed Open, Men’s Open, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 40.
7 teams entered at Mixed Open, Senior MIxed, Men’s Open, Women’s Open,
Men’s Over 30, Men’s Over 35, Men’s Over 40.
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In 2013 Ireland Touch Association introduced the game to a number of mixed schools. In time, a schools league will be promoted.
This was also the year when the game moved beyond Dublin with a Touch League established in Galway.

Touch football was established as a sport in South Sydney in the late 1960s as a non-contact off season fitness regime for Rugby League players. The game today has changed considerably from the original version but it has firmly established itself as a global game with 27 countries attending the 2011 Touch World Cup in Edinburgh, Scotland. In the Southern hemisphere, it has developed into a huge family sport with over 400,000 registered players in Australia alone.

There are leagues for every combination of family unit from husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons to brothers and sisters. The game migrated to Europe in the 1980’s and the first Touch league started in Ireland in 2005. Globally the game is governed by the Federation of International Touch (F.I.T.). See their website www.international-touch.org for more information.

Touch’s philosophy of “sport for all” is well suited as the core strength of the game is the fact that men and women of all ages can play together on an equal footing. Touch is one of the very few field games where this happens at a local and international level.

It can be played all year round and requires minimal expenditure. With access to a field, some cones as markers and a ball, a game can be put in motion very quickly. Because the game rules demand minimal contact it can be played from the cradle to the grave. It is also one of the few sports that you can play from 6 to 60.

If you are interested in playing Touch, contact us or one of the touch leagues.

Ireland Touch Association is a non-profit organisation run by dedicated volunteers.
The ITA supports the establishment of Touch Leagues throughout all of Ireland. Touch Leagues can be run on a volunteer or commercial basis.
If you are interested in establishing and running a Touch League anywhere in Ireland, contact the Ireland Touch Association via the contact phone number on our home page or use our contact form page.

Ireland Touch Association has a number of suppliers for training aids, playing uniforms and other supplies. If your business manufactures or supplies goods that may be suitable for the Ireland Touch Association, contact the Ireland Touch Association via the contact phone number on our home page or use our contact form page.

The Ireland Touch Association has a number of sponsors that gain exposure to our players, referees, coaches, supporters, touch league administrators and the international touch community through our web site, regular newsletters, targeted communications to our touch leagues, domestic touch blitz days, international touch blitz days and international touch tournaments including Home Nations, European and World Touch Championships.

Touch is a great sport for all ages, from the very young to the over 60s. It is a great sport for boys, girls, men and women alike and its great attraction is that it is one of the very few sports where males and females can play in social and international mixed teams.

If your business is looking to be involved in a growing sport, contact the Ireland Touch Association using the contact phone number on the home page to see how we can give your business additional exposure.